RV Repair: leaking on the RV roof, dee dee, lag bolts

Question
We have just bought a 5th wheel via private sale, we were happy with the purchase; however, on the first night, we have noticed that there was a leakage inside the lower corner of the cabinet, the wood of the cabinet (from inside)was soaped with water, luckily though, it was just a small area, we do not know what to do with that, I am soliciting on ways of  how to find out the leakage area....we do not know what to do,we are now storing the RV in a RV park, should we cover the hole roof with the tap first....Your suggestion will be highly appreciated.  Thanks in advance for your help.

Dee

Answer
Dee, Water leaks are sometimes a difficult thing to find. First thing that I would do is get on the roof and see what type of material it is. This can vary from metal to rubber. Whatever it is and what they have on it may depend on what you should do. First you can look at the vents and where they attach to the roof. They should have some sealant on there, and you can look to see what shape it is in. I recommend putting Liquid Roof on all areas that you want to seal. In most cases you will be able to see where the leak is unless it is at the air conditioner. With that you can replace the gasket if it is too smashed. If not then unless it is mounted from the top with lag bolts you will have access to the bolts from underneath at the ceiling assembly. If there is still some room to tighten the air conditioner then turn the 4 bolts a turn or two. As for covering it, I want to point out that with covers you should understand that if there is any moisture in the coach when you cover it the cover will keep it in and you can have mildew start in those areas. If you do cover it try to uncover it on clear days to allow it to dry and cover just the day before rain comes again. The Liquid Roof is made by Pro Guard and is pretty expensive, so read the directions good and I can't stress this enough to make sure you clean the roof real good. I use T.S.P. and a scrub brush to clean it. Then rinse it off good and let it dry. To make the Liquid Rubber stick better I always use vinegar and spray it on everywhere you plan on sealing and wipe it off with a dry towel, and then wait for it to dry all the way. If done right this product will last as long as you have your coach or several years. It comes with a 5 year warranty and I have been using it for 14 years without one customer having any complaint with it. Thanks, Bill